Share “Jordan king says extremism 'grown fat' on...”

Jordan king says extremism 'grown fat' on conflict

Published on NewsOK
Modified: May 25, 2013 at 6:23 am •
Published: May 25, 2013

Advertisement

SOUTHERN SHUNEH, Jordan (AP) — Jordan's King Abdullah II said Saturday extremism has "grown fat" off of the longstanding conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

King Abdullah II of Jordan gives the opening speech at the World Economic Forum, held at the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention center, in Southern Shuneh, 34 miles (55 kilometers) southeast of Amman, Jordan, Saturday, May 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Mohammad Hannon)

"Good faith talks must get going," Abdullah told the opening of a two-day meeting of the Geneva-based World Economic Forum on the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth.

He pointed to an Arab peace initiative that offers Arab recognition to Israel in exchange for land to Palestinians based on the 1967 borders.

Abdullah, who maintains cordial ties with Israel under a peace treaty signed in 1994, demanded a halt to Jewish settlement construction in territories claimed by the Palestinians for a future state.

For long, the Palestinians have demanded an end to settlement construction before returning to peace talks, which collapsed nearly five years ago.

The United States has supported Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request for negotiations to restart without preconditions, an endorsement renewed by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry after talks with Israeli and Palestinians leaders this week.

In Israel Friday, Kerry said it was important "not to let settlements stand in the way of talks that could finally set borders as part of a peace agreement." Then, he said, the issue would be resolved because each side would have clear boundaries for their two states.

Also speaking at the World Economic Forum, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas appealed to Israel in a separate speech to "make peace a reality."

"There remains a window of opportunity for peace," he said. "I invite the Israelis to make peace a reality on the ground."